Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

[SkeptInq@aol.com]

 Skeptical Inquirer Electronic Digest, May 10, 2000

 Visit the CSICOP and Skeptical Inquirer Magazine website at
 http://www.csicop.org. Receiving over 200,000 hits per year, the CSICOP site
 was rated one of the top ten science sites by HOMEPC magazine. Send comments
 regarding SI DIGEST to editors Matt Nisbet at mcn23@cornell.edu and Barry
 Karr at skeptinq@aol.com.

 --NSF: Communication of Science in the Public Interest
 --QUACKWATCH.COM: The Herbal Minefield
 --SPACE.COM: A Look at the SETI Institute
 --MEDIA WATCH: More Paranormal on Television; FOX and Larry King

 --NSF: COMMUNICATION OF SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST

 An overview report on National Science Board recommendations for the public
 communication of science and technology is now available.
 The following document (nsb0099) is now available from the NSF Online
 Document System:

 Title: Communicating Science and Technology in the Public Interest
 Type: General Information
 Subtype: National Science Board

 It may be found at:

     http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?nsb0099


 --QUACKWATCH.COM: THE HERBAL MINEFIELD

 Stephen Barrett, M.D., CSICOP Fellow

 Some excellent recommendations and advice on negotiating the heap of herbal
 remedy claims.
 For the full text, go to
 http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/herbs.html

 [Americans are now spending billions of dollars per year for capsules,
 tablets, bulk herbs, and herbal teas. Although many of these items are
 consumed for their flavor, most are probably used for supposed medicinal
 qualities. Sales by multilevel distributors and pharmacies amount to
 hundreds of millions more for products that are obviously intended for
 self-medication. Herbs are also marketed by naturopaths,
 acupuncturists,iridologists, chiropractors, and unlicensed herbalists, many
 of whom prescribe them for the entire gamut of health problems. Many such
 practitioners are not qualified to make appropriate medical diagnoses or to
 determine how the products they prescribe compare to proven drugs....]

 --SPACE.COM: A LOOK AT THE SETI INSTITUTE

 Alien Investigators: A Look at the SETI Institute

 By Daniel Sorid
 Staff Writer
 posted: 07:00 am ET
 09 May 2000
 For the full text of the article, go to
 http://www.space.com/searchforlife/inside_seti_000427.html

 [Seth Shostak is driving toward an observatory near the University of
 Berkeley in his beat-up Honda. An eloquent, middle-aged man with a piercing
 voice, he is one of the few people on the planet who can call himself a
 full-time alien hunter. His license plate backs that fact up; it reads "SETI
 GUY." (SETI is the acronym for Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.)
 Dr. Shostak is a scientist at the SETI Institute. Based in Mountain View,
 California, the SETI institute is the most prominent organization involved
 in the search for intelligent life beyond Earth....]

 --MEDIA WATCH: MORE PARANORMAL ON TV; FOX AND LARRY KING

 Special thanks to one of SI DIGEST's 4,000 readers for sending in the
 following note:

 "We're still in Sweeps Month, so on Thursday night (8 p.m.EST) Fox will be
 showing 'Powers of the Paranormal:  Live on Stage!'  According to the
 local,TV listing description:  'Experts in the fields of hypnosis,
 telekinesis,,past-life regression, mind reading and channeling perform in
 front of a studio audience.'  (Hey, I'd rather see Fox marrying off
 strangers!)

 Also, a few days ago, Larry King devoted another show to 3 well-known
 psychics, including James van what's-his-name.  When I saw who was on, I set
 the VCR to pick up the repeat at midnight (but I haven't watched the tape
 yet)."

 Here is a description of the FOX Special:

 "Broken clocks start working, spoons bend and spirits are channeled on
 Powers of the Paranormal: Live on Stage! See for yourself on Thursday, May
 11th at 8:00 PM/7:00 C. And try not to be scared!"

 The description comes complete with a bogus on-line survey.

 Watch the program, and send viewer comments to:

 20th Television (Production Company):
 Web site address: http://www.foxhome.com

 Paper Mail Address:
 20th Television (Production)
 P.O. Box 900
 Beverly Hills, CA 90213-0900


 Do you own stock in NewsCorp, and are you upset over Fox Television's
 programming?  Send comments to their investor relations department at:

 Reed Nolte
 Vice President, Investor Relations
 Phone (212) 852-7017
 Tsalem Mueller
 Phone (212) 852-7017
 Fax (212) 852-7145
 Email  tmueller@newscorp.com

 CSICOP's Media Stock Fund seeks to acquire funds in the large media
 conglomerates in order to have a voice in future stock holder meetings.  If
 you want to find out more information, contact Barry Karr at 716-636-1425
 x217.

 After viewing the program, you can submit and post a review at the CSICOP's
 Council for Media Integrity Web site.  Go to http://www.csicop.org/cmi/

 --------------------------------

 SI Electronic Digest is the biweekly e-mail news update of the Committee for
 the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP.)

 Visit http://www.csicop.org/. Rated one of the Top Ten Science sites on the
 Web by HOMEPC magazine.

 The Digest is written and edited by Matthew Nisbet and Barry Karr. SI Digest
 is distributed directly via e-mail to over 4000 readers worldwide, and is
 sent from CSICOP headquarters at the Center for Inquiry-International,
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